Vacuum cleaner bag



May 13, 1941. H. KESSLER VACUUM CLEANER BAG 3 Sheefs-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 29, 1958 ///41/Y K5552. 5e.

" INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

May 13, 1941.

H. KESSLER VACUUM CLEANER BAG Filed Nov. 29

, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fmleey X5364 5e.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

May 13, 1941- H. KESSLER VACUUM CLEANER BAG 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 29, 1938 I II 01 I4 .'I I il I I weev KESSLEIQ.

INVENTOR a 1 ATTORNEYS.

- clea'ner. Such practice Patented May 13, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.241.601 I VACUUM CLEANER an Harry Kessler, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application November 29, 1938, Serial No. 242,873 I Claims. (01. 183-51) This invention relates to improvements in vacuum cleaner bags.

Vacuum cleaner bags of the kind most com- :monly in use require the disconnection of the bag from the vacuum cleaner head and .handle to facilitate the dumping of dust and dirt which is collected therein during use ofthe vacuum is laborious and requires the shaking of the bag to thoroughly empty all the dust and dirt therefrom which stirs up the dust and makes the emptying of the bag a dirty v and unpleasant operation. It is therefore one of the main features of this invention to provide a vacuum cleaner bag which may be emptied without disconnecting thesame from the vacuum cleaner; and which may be easily and expeditiously emptied of accumulated dust anddirt in a clean manner. 1

Vacuum cleaner bags are in reality dust filter bags, that is, air may escape from the bag but any particles of dust and dirt blown into the bag becomes trapped therein. In my invention I provide a closure flap'in the side wall of the bag, which flap when opened, uncovers an opening through which the accumulaterQdust and dirt may 'h'e-jemptied from the bag. It is therefore essential that *some positive sealing means be provided between the closure flap and body of the bag when the flap is, in closed position. Therefore, another important feature of the invention is to provide a positive dust-proof seal for the closure flap when the same is in closed position.

A further feature of the invention resides in a vacuum cleaner bag having a closure iiap at the rear side and adjacent the bottom thereof, and a novel means associated with the closure flap 109 loosenfiig any matted dust and dirt which may accumulate therein, as the closure flap is swung to an open position, thus making it unnecessary for an operator to reach into the bag to loosen the collected matter preparatory to its discharge through the discharge opening.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a vacuum cleaner bag which receives an adapter by which it is possible to connect the cleaners now upon the market.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a vacuum cleaner bag having a dust and dirt discharge opening in the rear thereof which is normally closed by a closure flap secured by a slide fastener device, the tapes of the strin ers of the. slide fastener device overlapping inwardly of the interlocking elements of the device to seal the .ioint between the interlocking element against the escape of dust and dirt there between, and to prevent particles of dust and dirt from interfering with the free operation of the slide fastener device.

A still further feature of the invention is to provide a novel mean of attaching the top of the bag to the handle of a vacuum cleaner to support the same in a loose suspended position for use, and which means enables the lowering of the bag to a position adjacent the floor level for emptying without disconnecting the bag from the handle.

While I have set forth several novel features of my improved vacuum cleaner bag, other .features thereof will become apparent as the following specification is read in' conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a conventional vacuum cleaner equipped with my improved dust collector bag and showing in dotted lines the approximate shape of the bag when inflated.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the bag in dust dumping position.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the bag per se showing the closure flap in open position.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view on the line 6-4 of Figure 2 with the bag inflated.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view on the line 1-1 of Figure 2 with the bag inflated.

Figure 8 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a detail vertical sectional view of amodified form of the invention.

Figure 10 is a detail horizontal sectional view on the line Ill-40 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view of the slide fastener seal shown in Figure'9.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the modified form' of bag shown in Fig-' ures 9 to 11 inclusive, and illustrating the bag in dirt dumping position.

Figure 13 is a detail vertical longitudinal sectional view through the neck of the bag and coupling sleeve.

Figure 14 is a detail vertical sectional view I vice, the said stringer acters, the numeral ||l designates mydmproved vacuum cleaner bag in its entirety, and which includes an elongated bag body ll closed at its top end-by a seam l2 and having a restricted tubularneck portion l3 at its lower end. The bag body'il is constructed-of the usual filter cloth material, that is, the fabric permits air to pass outwardly irom the inside of the bag without the escape of dust or to be collected within the body. The bag body includes a front piece of material H and a rear piece or material IS, the same being stitched together along the side edges as at IS. The rear wall l5 includes an upper section II having a closure flap l8 formed integral therewith, and a substantially U-shaped lower section I9, which is stitched to the upper section H at 20. The lower U-shaped section l9 defines a discharge opening 2| in the rear wall of the bag and the edges of the opening 2| are cross stitched or bound with dirt which is intended the vacuum head has been shut off. The outer end of the coupling sleeve 3| is provided with any conventional form; of attaching means ior the purpose of fitting a complementary coupling member on the discharge spout o1 the vacuum cleaner head. In Figure 13, a conventional bayonet slot 35 is shown and which might .be used in vacuum cleaner machines having pins on the complementary coupling elements.

The seam l2 at the top or ithe bag is formed when the bag is inside out during the making of tape as designated at 22. The closure flap Iii is of a shape corresponding to the opening 2| but is of a size to overlap the edges of the opening when the closure flap is in closed position. stitched adjacent the free edges of the closure flap it is the stringer 23 of a slide fastener debeing substantially parallel to the edges of the flap it. Stitched to the outerside of the lower portion i9 01 the rear wall of the bag body is the complementary slide fastener stringer member 24, the same being set inwardly of the edge of the opening 2| and substantially parallel thereto, the portion of the section I9 disposed inwardly .oi the stringer member 24 constituting a sealing flap 25. Each of. the stringers and 2.4% includes a flexible attaching tape 26 on which the interlocking fastener elements are carried intermediate the longitudinal.

side edges to provide a sealing flap 21 which laps the interlocking fastener elements of the stringer member. The flaps 21 of the stringer members 23 and 24 overlap inwardly of the interlocking elements when the latter are in interlocking engagement, whereas to provide a seal at the inner side of the stringers to prevent dust and dirt from passing through the joints and from inter- Iering with the free operation of the slide fastener device. cludes the usual manual operated slider .28 which effects interlocking of the stringers and the release thereof during the sealingand opening of the nap is.

The closure flap I8 is provided with a trans- The slide fastener device also inversely disposed pleat or fold 29, which 101d lies flat when the bag body is in a flattened position and which provides a dustand dirt accumulating pocket 38 when the bag body is inflated by the air blown thereinto from the suction head of the vacuum cleaner.

Fitting into the reduced tubular neck |3 of the bag body is the inner end of a coupling sleeve 3|, the said groove 32 therein with which a wire ring 33 coacts for clamping the coupling sleeve 3| in the neck iii. The coupling sleeve iii is secured to the neck when the bag is being constructed inside out so that all seams are on the inside of the bag and the clamping ring 33 is concealed. A portion of the restricted neck 83 which is designated 5% in Figure 13 extends inwardly of the neck beyond the coupling sleeve 3! to provide a fiappy baifie which will permit air and dirt to enter the bag through the neck and which tends to trap any dust or dirt from passing out through the neck". after the operation of the suction head of sleeve having an external circumferential ment All, it will be noted in Figures the strap 31 forms a suspending loop for the the same and secured in the hem formed by this seam is a transversely disposed reinforcing bar 36 to which one end of a suspension strap 31 is connected. The endof the strap 11 is looped about the bar '36 and held by the hem formed by the two lines of stitching l8. Carried by the free end of the strap 31 is a female snap fastener element 39 whichis adapted to be engaged with the male snap fastener element 40' on the rear wall I5 01 the bag body or if desired the element 40' may be attached to the strap adjacent the bag body. The strap 3! passes through a restricted slot 40 in a buckle 4|, the said buckle also being formed with an attaching eye 42'. The slot 40 is of such size as to permit of the free sliding movement of the strap 31, but

which prevents the fastener element 39 from is of a length to provide slack therein when the closure flap I8 is closed, whereupon the strap 4| folds upon itself as indicated in Figure 5, but upon opening of the closure flap I8 to expose the opening 2|, the strap becomes taut and acts as an ejector for loosening and ejecting matted or bunched dirtand dust from within the bag and in the direction of the discharge opening 2|.

In Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, I have illustrated my improved vacuum cleaner bag in position upon a conventional vacuum cleaner A of the Hoover type which includes broadly a suction head B and a. handle C pivotally connected to the head B. The head B is provided with a discharge spout D at the rear'thereof which has a coupling member E adapted to receive the coupling sleeve ll. As previously mentioned, a bayonet slot coupling has been shown, but the showing is merely illustrative-and may vary according to the complementary coupling members oi the different makes of vacuum cleaners. The coupling sleeve 3| connects the reduced neck portionot the bag body I! to the suction head B and fixedly'secured on the handle C at the rear thereof and just below the hand grip portion, there is a hook F which receives the eye 42 of the buckle II. With the snap fastener element 39 engaged with the eleand 2 that position shown" in dotted lines in Fig. 1. During use oi. the vacuum cleaner, dust and dirt which enters the bag 10 from the suction head B will settle adjacent the bottom of the bag or in the vicinity of the closure flap l8, the said dirt and dust having a tendency to bunch up or mat due to the side of the front wall 14' nap, threads, other particles of dust and which have their inner ends hingedly connected dirt deposited into the bag from the vacuum "together as-at 46, whereas the outer end of one cleaner headIB. Assume that empty the bag It of collected dust and dirt; The operator disconnects the snap fastener element 38 from the snap fastener element 40', thus unloosening the looped strapfl and which permits is desiredto the top closed end of the bagf to drop, the exx;

tent of the dropping movement-oithe bag being; approximately the lengthof the strap 31 tor-the strap 31 pays out until the-[snap rmenr elemeat 39 engages the buckle 4; l'-.* The operator new places a newspaper G upon the floor as illustrated in Figure 3 and positions the paper so that it will lie directly beneath the discharge opening 2| of the bag after opening of the flap I 8-. The operator next grasps the slider 28 and moves it from one end of the stringers to the opposite ends, thus unfastening the flap which enables the operator to grasp the end of the flap and fold the same outward in the direction of the top end of V the bag. As the flap I8 is swung open, the ejector strap is drawn taut; tlius tending to loosen any bunched or matted dirt and dust which might be present within the bag. When the closure flap I8 is swung to the substantially horizontal open position as illustrated in Figure 3 oi the drawings, it provides a shield to arrest the rising of dust and dirt during" the bag emptying operation. After the bag'has been emptied, the slider 28 is actuated to bring the interlocking fastener elements of the tastener device into locked position,

and the free end of the strap 31 is graspediand of the members 45 is flexibly attached to the inside of the closure flap i8 by leather strapslou,

tabs '41. The outer end of the other member 7'45 is connected tothe inner s'ide'of the front wall I401 the bagbody by flexible straps or tabs 4 8 When"the closure flap i8 is in closed positio'rias illustrated in Figure 9, the link members 45 are folded into an inverted V, and upon opening of the closure flap 18 as illustrated in Figure 12 of the drawings, the link members 45 separate and thehinge joint breaks outwardly to forcibly eject any accumulated bunched or matted dirt contained within the bag.

In Figure 14 of the drawings, I have illustrated a construction which will enable the neck of the bag to be equipped with a standard fitting capable of interchangeably receiving an adapter having attaching meanscomplementary to the coupling of angwelFknown make of vacuum cleaner. In

Figure 14 I provide a coupling collar 3| which is connected to the neckof the bag in the same manner as the coupling collar 3i hereinbefore described. The outwardly extending portion of the coupling collar is formed with an annular shoulder '49 which has its outer face undercut as at 50 for receiving the beveled end 5| of an the strap pulled through the eye-'40 and-the snap fastener element 39 is engaged with the snap fastener element 40, thus bringing the top of the bag to its normal position.

When the closure flap i8 is closed by the slide fastener device, the joint between the interlocking elements of the slide fastener device are sealed by'a double sealing means, namely the sealing flap 35 which is blown outward against the closure flap l8 when the bag is inflated, and secondly,

the overlapping sealing tapes 2! which are associated with the respective stringer members 23 v and 24.

In Figures 9 to 12 inclusive, I have illustrated certain modified features of construction, and parts corresponding to those hereinbefore described are designated by like reference characters.

In the modification shown in Figures 9 and 11 the sealing flap 25 is dispensed with and the stringer member 24 of the slide fastener device is secured to the front wall of the bag body around the edges of the opening 2|. Instead of relying upon the flap 25, I substitute therefor, a sealing strip which includes. a rubberized flexible strip of tape folded upon itself-to provide an attaching portion 42' and encloses a rubber yieldable bead 43. The attaching portion 42' of the beaded sealing strip'is secured by stitching 44 which also aids in securing the stringer 24 to the rear wall of the bag. In this construction, the yieldable sealing bead 43 tightly engages the overlapped sealing tapes 21 of the slide fastener device and coacts therewith to provide a double seal to prevent dust and dirt from passing out Another modified feature shown in Figures 9,- 10 and .12 resides in a dust loosening and ejector '-spring members 54 which adapter 52. f .The beveled end of the adapter 52 is also provided with a bead 63, which bead is engaged bya; pair of diametrically opposed snap are carried by the collar 3 l Whereas the adapter member 52 is shown as having its outer end provided with a bayonet slot 55, other forms of connecting. elements maybe provided depending upon the type oi connection with which the various makes of vacuum cleaners are provided.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that'I'have provided a vacuum cleaner bag which isladaptable for use on the different makes of vacuum' cleaners and'in which the bag may be emptied of its accumulated dust and dirt without necessitating the disconnection of the bag from the vacuum cleaner head and handle of the vacuum .cleaner machine. The dust and dirt emptying operation may be cleanly accomplished without stirring up the dust and dirt and with a minimum amount of labor to an operator.

'While I have illustrated in the drawings, one particular shape of my vacuum cleaner bag, it will be understood that the shapes may vary according toithe particular type of vacuum cleaners to which the bags are adapted for use.

Having described what I consider to be the most practical embodiments of my invention, I

'wish it to be understood that such changes and ent of the United States, is:

, 1. A vacuum cleaner bag comprising a body closed at its upper end andhaving an open neck at its lower end, said body having a discharge opening in one of the side walls and disposed ad- Jacent thelower end thereof, a closure flap con,-

member which may be substituted for the flexible strap 4| hereinbefore described. In lieu oi the strap 4|, I employ a pair of link members 45-45 nectedto said body for closing said opening, releasable fastening for; securing said closure flap in closed position over said opening, and dirt ejector means connected to said'closure flap and opp sed wall of said body and normally folded therein for unfolding to eject accumulated dirt from said body toward said discharge opening curing said flap in closed position over said opening, and a flexible strap having one of its ends secured to the inner front side of said body and its other end attached to the free end of said closure flap, said strap having sufllcient slack therein as to normally fold into said body when Said closure fiap is in closed position and to en;

able opening of said flap during which time'the strap is moved to a taut position to urge any accumulated dirt in the bag toward the discharge opening. 7

3. A vacuum cleaner bag comprising a body closed at its upper end and having an open neck at its lower end, a substantially U-shaped slit provided in the rear side of said body adjacent the lower end thereof, said slot providing a discharge opening and a closure (flap for overlying said opening, a single slide closure device for securing said flap in closed position over said opening, a pair of rigid links pivoted together at their inner ends, the outer ends of said links being respectlvely hingedly connected to the inner front side of said body and to the free end of said closure flap, said pivoted links being folded within said body when said closure flap is inqclosed position and adapted to unfold and forciblyurge any accumulated dirt in said body toward the discharge opening when said closure flap is in open position.

eme Tadiacent said inlet opening, means for "connecting the top end of said bag to said handle,

' said means comprising an eye member carried by said handle, a strap freely passing through said eye member and having one of its ends fastened to the top of said bag. and releasable coacting fastening elements on the other end of said strap and said bag to effect a looping of said strap, the

fastening element on said strap being larger than the eye opening in said eye member to prevent said strap from pulling fre of said eye member when said fastening elements are released whereby a limited lowering of the bag relative to said handle is effected to facilitate emptying said bag through said discharge Op ning.

5. In combination with a vacuum cleaner having a handle, a-filter bag closed at its top, an inlet opening at the lower end of said bag, a discharge opening adjacent said inletopening, means for connecting the top end of said bag to 'said handle, said means comprising an eye member carried by said handle, a strap freely passing through said eye member and having one of its ends fastened to the top of said bag, releasable fastening mean connecting the free end of said strap to said bag .to etfect looping of said strap, and a stop element adjacent the free end of said strap which is larger than the eye opening in said eye memher to prevent the strap from pulling free of said eye member when the fastening means is released whereby 5. limited lowering of the bag relative to said handle is effected to facilitate emptying ofsaid bag through said discharge opening.

HARRY KESSLER. 

